At Young Academics, the wellbeing of every child is our highest priority. We maintain the highest childcare safety standards, combining thorough policies, continuous training, and proactive monitoring to ensure that every environment is secure, hygienic, and nurturing.
Our approach to health and safety in childcare extends far beyond compliance, it’s an embedded culture of care that protects children, supports families, and empowers educators to act with confidence and integrity every day.
Why Health and Safety in Childcare Matters
In early learning environments, safety is the foundation for growth. Children can only explore, learn, and connect when they feel protected and supported. That’s why our childcare health and safety policy covers every aspect of a child’s day from arrival and playtime to nutrition and rest.
We take a proactive approach, ensuring every educator understands their role in maintaining safety in childcare centres, both physically and emotionally.
Our Childcare Health and Safety Policy
The work health and safety policy at Young Academics outlines clear procedures and expectations for staff, families, and visitors. It aligns with the National Quality Framework (NQF), Education and Care Services National Regulations, and best practices across the early childhood education sector.
Key areas include:
- WHS Officer in the Service: Oversees compliance with workplace health and safety regulations, ensuring all procedures meet national childcare safety standards.
- Duty of Care: Every educator is responsible for maintaining a safe, inclusive environment that prioritises the wellbeing of all children, families, and staff.
- Hierarchy of Controls: Risks are managed using the hierarchy of controls; eliminating hazards where possible, then substituting, isolating, or controlling risks through engineering, administrative measures, or personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Hazard Identification and Preventive Measures: Regular inspections, observations, and safety checks are conducted to identify potential hazards early and implement immediate preventive actions.
- Risk Management: Continuous assessment and documentation of risks to ensure appropriate control measures are in place and effective.
- Hazard Reduction: Proactive steps are taken to minimise or remove identified risks within both indoor and outdoor environments.
- Hazardous Materials: All chemicals and cleaning agents are correctly labelled, safely stored, and handled following strict WHS guidelines to prevent exposure.
Childcare Health and Safety Checklist
To ensure our high standards are maintained daily, we use a comprehensive childcare health and safety checklist across every classroom and outdoor area.
This checklist covers:
- Indoor and outdoor environment inspections
- Playground and equipment safety
- Temperature, lighting, and ventilation checks
- Cleaning and sanitisation confirmation
- First aid kit audits and restocking
- Food storage and preparation reviews
- Sign-in/out and attendance monitoring
- Emergency exits and alarm functionality
- Educator-to-child ratios and supervision quality
Ongoing Childcare Safety Assessment
Our commitment to excellence doesn’t stop at internal checks. We conduct ongoing childcare safety assessments to review and improve practices across all centres.
Each assessment involves:
- Independent audits by area and compliance managers.
- Evaluation of educator training, ratios, and supervision practices.
- Equipment and facility inspections to meet regulatory standards.
- Review of emergency procedures and incident reporting.
- Updates to policies as new best practices or legislation emerge.
Safety in Childcare Centres
We cultivate a culture where educators, children, and families share responsibility for maintaining health and safety in childcare.
Our educators model safe behaviours and teach children to:
- Use equipment responsibly.
- Follow hygiene routines like washing hands before meals.
- Recognise and communicate hazards.
- Show care and empathy toward others.
We also encourage parents to partner with us by communicating health needs, allergies, and updates, ensuring consistency between home and centre.
This collaborative approach reinforces the idea that safety in childcare centres is a shared value.
Our vision for health and safety is proactive, preventive, and people-centred.
That’s why we continually:
- Review emerging health research and update procedures.
- Invest in high-quality safety equipment and secure design layouts.
- Train educators to respond calmly and competently to any scenario.
- Foster transparency, families always have access to our policies and procedures.
The result? Peace of mind for families and a thriving, secure environment for every child.
Visit your nearest Young Academics Early Learning Centre to see how we bring safety and quality together in every classroom.
